Journal-box-lid fastener.



G. W. BOOTH.

JOURNAL BOX LID PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.13, 1909.

- Patented July 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. W. BOOTH.

JOURNAL BOX LID FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13, 1909.

1 Q67 3()Q Patented July 15, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAES A QF-lt).

JOURNAL-BOX-LID FASTENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES IV. Boo'ri-r, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inJournal-Box-Lid Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to journal boxes and lids therefor.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved latch or catch forsecuring the lids of journal boxes in closed positions, together withmeans cooperating therewith to centralize said lids relatively to theirseats on the journal boxes proper, and to form tight, dust-proof jointsbetween said lids and journal boxes.

To effectthe objects of the invention, my improved journal box and lidcomprise the various features and details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fullyillustrated,-Figure 1 is an end view of a journal box showing the lid inclosed position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view 011 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the front end of the box and lid, takensubstantially on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary section taken substantially on the line Zi 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on the line A& of Fig. 3, thelocking pawl or detent being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detachedperspective view of the locking pawl or detent. Fig. 6 is a detachedperspective View of an insert for forming the rib or flange on the boxwith which the locking pawl or detent cooperates. Fig. 7 is a viewsubstantially similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of catch embodying myinvention. Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective View of the locking pawl ordetent; and Fig. 9 is an e11- larged perspective view of the bracketagainst which the spring applied to the look ing catch reacts.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings, 1 designatesthe body portion of the journal box provided with an opening 2 in itsouter end, 4 the lid or cover of the journal box pivoted to the body portion of the box at the upper side of the opening 2 therein in any usualor desired manner, 5 a leaf spring secured to the inner face of the lidor cover a and adapted to cooperate Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1909.

Patented July 15, 1913. Serial No. 527,778.

with flattened surfaces 6 on the bearing lug 7 of the journal box tomaintain the lid A yleldingly in both closed and opened positions. Asregards their general features, all of the foregoing parts are old andwell known in the art and may be of any desired or approvedconstruction. The lid or cover 4 is adapted to be secured in closedposition by a pivoted pawl or detent 8 normally maintained yieldingly inlocking position by means of a suitable spring applied thereto. Asshown, the locking pawl or detent 8 is pivoted in a recess 9 in'the lidor cover at by means of trunnions 1O thereon adapted to engage bearingsformed on the sides of the recess 9, as shown, between shoulders 11 onthe outer wall of said recess and inwardly projecting ribs 12 on theside walls of said recess. As shown, also, the bearings for said lockingpawl or detent are open at their tops to provide for engaging thetrunnions l0 thereon with said bearings. As shown, the spring fornormally maintaining the locking pawl or detent 8 yieldingly in lockingposition consists of a downward extension 13 of the leaf spring 5, thelower end of which engages a slot or groove 14: formed transversely inthe upper side of said pawl or detent. In order that the sides of theslot or groove 14: may not bind upon the end of the spring 13, said slotor groove is preferably enlarged within the open side thereof and theedges thereof are rounded. The locking pawl or detent 8 is adapted tocooperate with a rib or flange 15 formed on the body portion of the boxat the lower side of the opening 2, the sides of said rib preferablyconverging upwardly toward the center line of said rib or flange.Pivotal movement of the locking pawl or detent 8 under the influence ofthe spring 13 applied thereto is limited by suitable stops, the relationbeing such that when said pawl or detent is disengaged and the coverraised, said stops will support said pawl in position to engage the ribor flange 15 when the lid or cover is closed. As shown, said stopsconsist of lugs 16 on the trunnions 10, which cooperate with theinwardly projecting ribs 12 on the side walls of the recess 9 in thelid. or cover 41-.

In practice, journal boxes are very commonly made of malleable iron. Itis obvious, however, that a malleable iron rib or flange 15 would beobjectionable on account of its softness as it would soon wear in use tosuch an extent that it would not afford proper engagement of the lockingpawl or detent 8 with the body portion of the box. To avoid thisobjectionable result, the rib or flange 15 is preferably made in theform of a separate insert of non-annealable metal embedded in the wallof the body portion of the journal box 1, so that the upper edge thereofwill project in proper position for engagement by the locking pawl ordetent 8. \Vhere the body portion 1 of the journal box is made of grayiron or other chilling metal, said rib or flange may be cast integraltherewith and chilled.

The seat for the lid or cover 4 on the body portion 1 of the journal boxpreferably comprises a section 17 at its outer margin which is inclinedor beveled relatively to the straight face of the end of the box.Obviously, the inclined section of the seat for the lid or cover willoperate to centralize said lid or cover relatively to the journal boxwhen said lid or cover is closed, and under the tension of the lockingpawl or detent 8 will operate to maintain a tight, dust-proof jointbetween said journal box and lid. Proper adjustment of the lid or coverto its seat on the body portion 1 of the box will thus be assured,whereby a dust-proof jointwill be produced and maintained at all times.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, 1 have shown a modified form of myinvention as it relates to the lock mechanism. Excepting as hereinafterparticularly described, the construction of said modified form ofjournal box is substantially identical with the form shown in Figs. 1 t06, inclusive, and heretofore described, and will be readily understoodwithout a description thereof in detail. Referring to said Figs. 7, 8and 9, 1 designates the body portion of the ournal box, 1 the lid orcover therefor, 8 the looking pawl or detent pivoted in a recess 9 inthe lid or cover 4 by means of trunnions 10 which engage suitablebearings formed at the sides of said recess 9 between the outer wall ofsaid recess and inwardly projecting ribs 12 on the side walls of saidrecess; and 15 designates the rib or flange with which the locking pawlor detent 8 00- operates to secure the lid or cover 1 in closedposition, said rib or flange being shown integral with the body portion1 of said journal box in said modified construction. Also, as in theform of the invention heretofore described, the seat or cover for thelid 4: comprises an inclined or beveled section 17 which cooperates withthe looking pawl or detent 8 to properly seat the lid or cover upon theopen end of the box and to maintain a tight, dust-proof joint aroundsaid cover. The locking pawl or detent 8 is normally maintainedyieldingly in looking position by means of a coiled spring 18 insertedbetween a suitable seat 19 formed on said pawl and a bracket 20 securedin rigid position to the inner side of the lid or cover 43. For reasonspresently apparent, the spring seat 19 on the locking pawl or detent 8is wider than said pawl or detent, thus forming flanges 21 projectinglaterally at both sides thereof. The bracket 20 is preferably formedwith depending sides 22 which form a housing for the pawl S and spring18, the lateral sides 22 of said housing being extended over thetrunnions 10 on said locking pawl so as to secure said pintles inengagement with the bearings on the lid or cover 1 Pivotal movement ofthe locking pawl or detent 8 under the influence of the spring 18 islimited by suitable stops consisting, as shown, of ribs or flanges 28which project inwardly from the lateral sides of the housing 22 inposition to engage the projecting flanges 21 on said locking pawl ordetent.

I claim 1. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted forclosing the open end thereof, of a spring lock for securing said lid inclosed position, said lock-comprising a detent pivotally mounted on saidlid, a rib or flange on the body portion of the journal box adapted forengagement by said detent, said rib Or flange consisting of an insert ofnon-annealable, hard material, and a spring applied to said detentadapted for maintaining the same yieldingly in looking position,substantially as described.

2. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closedposition, said lock comprising a detent pivotally mounted on said lid, abracket on said lid and a spring inserted between said detent andbracket, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closedposition, said lock comprising a detent pivotally mounted on said lid, abracket on said lid and a spring inserted between said detent andbracket, said bracket comprising depending side walls and forming ahousing for said detent and its spring, substantially as described.

4. The combination in a journal box com prising a lid adapted forclosing the open end thereof, said lid being provided with a recess inits inner, surface, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closedposition, sald lock comprising a detent pivotally mounted in the recessin said lid. a rib or flange on the body portion of the journal boxadapted for engagement by said detent, and a spring applied to saiddetent for maintaining the same yieldingly in lookingposition,'substantially as described.

5. The combination in a ournal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, said lid being provided with a recess in its innersurface, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closed position, saidlock comprising a detent, trunnions thereon which engage bearings formedon the side walls of the recess in said lid, a rib or flange on the bodyportion of the journal box adapted for engagement by said detent, and aspring applied to said detent for maintaining the same yieldingly inlooking position, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, said lid being provided with a recess in its innersurface, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closed position, saidlock comprising a detent, trunnions thereon which engage bearings on theside walls of the recess in said lid said bearing being formed in partby ribs projecting inwardly from said side walls, a rib or flange on thebody portion of the journal box adapted for engagement by said detent,and a spring applied to said detent adapted for maintaining the sameyieldingly in looking position, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, said lid being provided with a recess in its innersurface, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closed position, saidlock comprising a detent, trunnions thereon which engage bearings on theside Walls of the recess in said lid, a rib or flange on the bodyportion of the journal box adapted for engagement by said detent, aspring applied to said detent for maintaining the same yieldingly inlooking position, and a stop adapted to limit the pivotal movement ofsaid detent under the influence of said spring, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination in a journal box comprising a lid adapted for closingthe open end thereof, said lid being provided with a recess in its innersurface, of a spring lock for securing said lid in closed position, saidlock comprising a detent, trunnions thereon which engage bearings on theside walls of the recess in said lid formed in part by ribs projectinginwardly from said side Walls, a rib or flange on the body port-ion ofthe journal box adapted for engagement by said detent, a bracket on saidlid, a spring inserted between said detent and bracket, said bracketcomprising depending side walls and forming a housing for said detentand its spring, and stops which limit the pivotal movement of saiddetent under the influence of said spring, said stops comprising opposedribs or flanges formed on said detent and on the depending walls of saidhousing, substantially as described.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I aflix mysignature in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day ofNovember, A. D. 1909.

CHAS. WV. BOOTH.

W itnesses K. A. Cos'rnnLo, M. V. CosTnLLo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

